Nozzle



May 26, 1964 c. s. MARDEN ETAL 3,134,408

NOZZLE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 5, 1961 May 26, 1954 c. s. MARDI-:N ETAL 3,134,408

NOZZLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3, 1961 FIG. 5

FIG. 4

fallnd llllllllll l May 26, 1964 c. s. MARDEN ETAL 3,134,408

NOZZLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 3, 1961 c IO FIG. 9

lll

INVENTORS cARLEToN s. MARDEN CHARLES R SPERRY MM ATToRN United States Patent 3,134,498 NGZ LE Carleton S. Martien, Boston, and Charles R. Sperry, Arlington Heights, Mass., assignors, by mesne assignments, to King-Seeiey thermos Co., Ann Arbor, Mich., a corporation oi Michigan Filed May 3, 1961, Ser. No. 197,382 9 Claims. (Si. 141-269) This invention relates generally to fluid nozzles and more particularly to a dispensing nozzle for liquids having certain improved features including especially a novel automatic shut-oif means.

More particularly, as shown and described herein, a nozzle for dispensing liquids such as gasoline may be constructed according to the invention, comprising a nozzle body and a spout adapted for insertion within the mouth of a container. A float is slidable axially of the spout in response to the rising liquid level in the container, and is equipped with valve means for shutting oi the iow from the spout when the iloat has been lifted into a predetermined position. The oat is attached internally of the nozzle body to an actuating lever which is movable in accordance with the position of the iloat. The lever and the nozzle body are also equipped with a retaining means to hold the iloat and valve means in a position to shut-olf ow from the spout. The lever may be positively actuated by an externally operative start or feed button to release the oat and valve means, permitting flow from the spout. In addition, means are provided allowing the float to rise in response to an increased liquid level and to shut-off flow from the spout notwithstanding continued external operation of the start or feed button.

More specically, in accordance with a particular ernbodiment of the invention, a oat is provided in association with the nozzle spout, which has the general shape of an inverted cup to provide buoyancy to the oat when acted upon by a rising level of liquid within a container into which the spout has been inserted. The oat is equipped with an axially extending hollow cylindrical sleeve which encompasses a portion of the spout and is slidably and axially guided thereby in its response to the level of the liquid in the container. The float is attached by a yoke to a valve plug of generally conical or frustoconical shape which is adapted, when lifted by float action, to shut-off the iiow of liquid from the spout orice. A link connects an upper part of the float to one end of an actuating lever which is pivotally mounted within the nozzle body. The opposite end of the actuating lever carries a member of soft iron, for example, which is attracted and held by a permanent magnet when the valve plug is in position to seal oif dow. When the parts are in their above-described positions, a feed button may be depressed in order to initiate flow from the nozzle. The feed button is in constant contact with one end of a leaf spring having a downturned end adapted to bear against the end of the actuating lever carrying the iioat connection. Depression of the feed button therefore, will force the actuating lever and its iloat connection downwardly to unseat the valve plug, permitting ow to begin. Override means are provided between the lever and spring to prevent contact from occurring therebetween upon reverse movement of the oat and valve plug when an increasing or rising liquid level in a container forces the plug into sealing engagement within the nozzle.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description of a particular embodiment and of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a view in cross-section of a nozzle constructed according to the invention;

lBfiA-@S Patented May 26, 1954 FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the nozzle spout show-v ing the valve plug in sealing engagement.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. l showing the nozzle in its ilow position;

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 4 4 of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a view taken in 5 5 of FIG. 1; and

PEG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the nozzle in its automatic shut-od position.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrate the construction and operation of a modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing and initially to the embodiment of FlGS. 1-6 inclusive, reference numeral 1) designates a nozzle incorporating the novel features of the invention. The nozzle 1@ comprises a nozzle body 11, which in the particular embodiment illustrated, has been constructed of a molded plastic material in two sections 12 and 13. Sections 12 and 13 are secured together by means of screws 14, arranged in a generally rectangular pattern, two on each side of a cylindrical passageway 15 defined by the nozzle body. A metal feed tube 17 is adapted for connection to a liquid dispensing container or pump (not shown) and is held within the passageway 15 when the two parts 12 and 13 of the nozzle body are secured together.

A depending spout 16 is attached to the nozzle body. The spout 16 comprises an outer casing 1S which is fastened by a screw 19 to the lower section 13 of the nozzle body. The screw 19 also contacts the wail of the feed tube 17 and acts as a grounding connection between the feed tube and the outer casing 1S. The end of the feed tube 17 forms a straight tubular section 29 delining at its lower end an emission orilice 21. An inverted cupshaped iloat 22 is located intermediate the casing 18 and the tubular section 26. The float 22 has an outer cylindrical wall 23 and an inner cylindrical sleeve 24 which are connected by a washer-shaped plate 26. As shown, the lower end of the lloat 22 between the wall 23 and sleeve 24 thereof is open, and in the embodiment, a rising level of liquid between the wall and sleeve will trap air within the float to provide buoyancy. A valve plug Z7 is rigidly aiiixed to the float 22 along the longitudinal axis of the spout, by means of a yoke 28. The valve plug 27 (see FIG. 2) is adapted for insertion within the orice 21 and cooperates with an O-ring seal 29 therein to seal the orifice. The spout, including its casing and the float and valve assembly may be inserted into a container 30 for filling the container with liquid.

Within the nozzle body 11 is a chamber 31 which accommodates the pivotal movement of an actuating lever 32. The lever 32 may rotate about a pin or stud 33 mounted to the wall of the nozzle body. One end 34 of the lever 32 is attached as by welds 36 (see FIG. 5) to the direction of the arrows a plate 37 of soft iron or other magnetic material. A

permanent magnet 38 is secured to the nozzle body by ears 39. The magnet 33 is held in the position shown by its contact with the feed tube 17 below and by upper abutrnents 4t), 40', formed into the nozzle body.

The end of the lever .32 opposite the magnet 38 define a cutout 41 and immediately adjacent thereto, is a raised section 42 defining a notch 42. Below the cutout 41 the actuating lever is attached to a link 43 which extends downwardly therefrom to make connection with the iloat 22. The link 43 has opposing legs 44, 44' which are respectively inserted within tangs 4 5, 45 attached to an upper part of the float. Thus, the lever 32 may, during its pivotal movement, raise or lower the float or conversely, the lever may be pivoted by the float.

Slidably mounted within an upper portion of the nozzle body 11 are two buttons 46, 47 comprising respectively feed and stop buttons. The buttons are each mount- Vend of an actuating lever 121.

Cil

follows: Where the parts are in the position shown in FlG. 1, the end 52 of the leaf spring 5i)l rides in the notch 42 of the actuating lever 32 and the oppositeend of the lever is held by the magnet 3S. When the feed buttonio is depressed (see (FIG. 2) the magnetic connection is broken and the lever 32 will be pivoted to unseatthe valve plug 27 from the orifice 21, thus permitting liquid to iiow from the feed tube 17. To shut oli flow from the nozzle, the stop button 47 may be depressed to force the end of the actuating lever carriing the iron plate 37 into proximity to the magnet 38, such that the leverV 32 will be snapped into the generally horizontal position of FIG. l. In the latter position, the valve plug will again become seated within the orifice 21 and iioW from the spout will cease.

VTo illustrate the automatic shut-oli feature, reference is made to FIG. 6 wherein Vthe liquid level is depicted as rising in the mouth of the container Sil. -As the level rises, air trapped between the walls 23, 24 of the float 22 causes the iioat to rise. The float 22 will force the end V of the: actuating lever V32 attached thereto to move upwardly and if the feed button 45 continues to be depressed, the end 52 of the leaf spring Sti-will lie within the cut-out 41 and will be out of contact with the Yactuating lever. Consequently, the depression of the buttom 46 cannot prevent the lever 32 from being rotatedY to lower the plate 37 within the sphere of attraction of the magnet 38. When this occurs, the end of the actuating lever adjacent to the magnet will be snappedV downwardly thereby seating thevalve plug 27 within the end of the orifice 22. n

Y According to` a modified form of the invention illustrated in F1GS.'710, reference numeral 116 indicates a nozzle having a body 111 of unitary construction. The body 111 supports a depending spoutV 112 having a cylindrical outer shell 112 which is secured to the body as by staking 113. A lioat 114.is permitted limited vertical freedom within the shell 112 and is of the same general construction as the iioat 23 disclosed in the previous embodiment. A feed tube 116 is connected to source of iiuid under pressure (not shown) and at its lower end forms an emission orifice 117. Adjacent its end, the tube walls Vdefining the oriiice 117 are iiared outwardly for` the reception of a conical-shaped valve plug 118. The plug 118 is affixed to the float 114 by a yoke 119. When the float has risen in accordance with a predetermined liquid level, the plug 118 will seat itself within the end of the orifice 117 and shutioff the iiow of liquid from the spout. K

The iioat is connected by two wire links 12tl-to one The lever 121V is rotatable about a pivot 122 and carries at its opposite end two soft iron rods 123. The rods 12,3 are receivable within horizontal grooves formed into two magnets 124 position of proximity adjacent the magnets 124 which causes the latter to snap the lever into a horizontal position and to seat the plug 118 Within the orifice 117.

The opposite end of the spring 127 immediately beneath the feed button 125 formsa straight section 130, the end of which is in contact with the lever 121 when the latter assumes the position in FIG. 7. The lower end of section 131) simultaneously bears against the upper surfaces of two laterally protruding generally planar trackmembers 132. Thermem'bers 132 are formed integrally with the nozzle body and comprise in effect, a track which the, section 131) of the spring 127, must follow when the feed button 125 is depressed. lThe track members 132 are separated laterally to permit the unimpededV movement of the lever 121. When the feed button is depressed, the end ofthe lever 121 connectedV to the float will be forced down to unseat Vthe valve plug and initiate iiow from the spout (see (FIG. 8). If the float rises in the spout while the feed button is depressed, the end of the section 130 of spring'127 will be held out of interfering contact with the lever by operation of the track members 132. Flow from the nozzle will therefore automatically cease, notwithstanding depressionV ofthe start button. i

It will be understood that the foregoing description relates to a particular embodiment or embodiments only, and is therefore merely representative. In order to fully appreciate the spirit and scope of the invention, reference should be made to the appendedclaims, in which:

We claim: Y v

l. A liquid dispensing nozzle comprising a nozzle body, aspout supported by said body adapted for insertion within the mouth of a container, said spout having a liquid emission oriiice, a float carried by said body, valve means attached securely to the nozzle body. The levei 121V will i therefore be held in the position illustrated in FIG. 7

when the lever Y121 has been rotated into such position by the Vaction of the float. Y

A feed button 125 and a stop button 126 are provided which are reciprocable within the upper wall of the nozzle body. Eachfof the buttons 125, 125 are normally urged upwardlyby a spring 127 attached to the knozzle body by a screw 128. The opposite ends of the spring 127 are adapted-to contact opposite ends of the actuating lever 121 for rocking the lever 121 about its pivot thereby raising or lowering the iioat and the attached valve plug. When the stop button 126 is depressed, it urges an end 128 of theactuating lever 121 carrying rods 123-to a operable by said float for sealing said orifice after a predetermined level of liquid Vhas been reached in said con- Y tainer, an actuating lever supported for movementwithin said nozzle body, means interconnecting said lever and said iioat, said lever being selectively movable into positions respectiveiy to actuate the valve means to seal said orifice and to permit iiow therefrom, retaining means within said nozzle body operatively upon said lever to hold said lever and valve means in a position to seal said orifice, said lever being movable by said iioat in response to an increasing level of liquid in said container to a position to be held by said retaining means, first actuating means for moving said lever and valve` means-to release a flow of liquid from said orifice, second'actuating means urging said lever into a position to be heldAby said retaining means comprising means preventing actuation of said actuating lever by said first actuating means wheny said actuating lever is urged by said iioat to a position to bel held by said retaining means when said lirst actuating means is continuously operated prior to and during actuation of said lever by said float.

2. A liquid dispensing nozzle comprising a nozzle body, a spout supported by said nozzle body adapted for insertion within the mouth of a container, afloat carried by said body, valve means connected to said lioat for shutting oli` iiow from said spout after a predetermined level of liquid has vbeen reached within said container, valve actuating means carried by lsaid nozzle body and means interconnecting said actuating means and said lioat, said.

actuating means selectively operating said valve means to permit liquid to flow from said spout and to shut-off ow from said spout, and'rneans permitting said valve means to be operated by said lioat to shut off-now from said nozzle when said valve actuating means is continuously operated prior to and during movement of said valve means by said iioat.

3. A liquid dispensing nozzleV comprising a spout adapted for insertion within the mouth of a container, a nozzle body supporting said spout, a float carried bysaid body means guiding said-float along the` axis of said spout in response to a rising level of liquid in said container,

valve means connected to said float for sealably shutting o ow from said nozzle when a predetermined level of liquid has been reached within said container, an actuating lever supported for movement within said nozzle body, means interconnecting said lever and said float, said lever being movable into a position to cause said valve means to shut-olf flow from said nozzle and into a position to permit ow from said nozzle, retaining means for said lever to hold said valve means in a non-ow position, said float being movable in response to a rising liquid level to move said actuating lever to be held by said retaining means, first actuating means to move said lever and said float and to operate said valve means for permitting liquid to iiow from the nozzle, second actuating means urging said lever into a position to be held by said retaining means and override means permitting free movement of said lever by said oat when said first actuating means is operated prior to and during movement of said valve means by said oat to a non-iiow position.

4. A liquid dispensing nozzle comprising a nozzle body, a spout supported by said body adapted for insertion within the mouth of a container, said spout having a liquid emission orice, a float carried by said body, valve means operable by said float for sealing said oriice after a predetermined level of liquid has been reached in said container, an actuating lever supported for movement within said nozzle body, means interconnecting said lever and said oat, said lever being selectively movable into positions respectively to actuate the valve means to seal said orilice and to permit flow therefrom, retaining means within said nozzle body operative upon said lever to hold said lever and valve means in a position to seal said oriiice, said lever being movable by said oat in response to an increasing level of liquid in said container to a position to be held by said retaining means, first actuating means for moving said lever and valve means to release a iiow of liquid from said orifice, second actuating means urging said lever into a position to be held by said retaining means, said iirst actuating means including an elongated spring having a depressible end portion extending generally in an axial direction of said spout for engagement with a portion of said lever, means for depressing said end portion, said lever delining a cut-out providing clearance between said end portion and said lever upon a return movement of said lever by said float and when said end portion is depressed.

5. A liquid dispensing nozzle comprising a nozzle body, a spout supported by said body adapted for insertion within the mouth of a container, said spout having a liquid emission orifice, a float carried by said body, valve means operable by said oat for sealing said orifice after a predetermined level of liquid has been reached in said container, an actuating lever supported for movement within said nozzle body, means interconnecting said lever and said oat, said lever being selectively movable into positions respectively to actuate the valve means to seal said orifice and to permit flow therefrom, retaining means within said nozzle body operative upon said lever to hold said lever and valve means in a position to seal said oriflce, said lever being movable by said iioat in response to an increasing level of liquid in said container to a position to be held by said retaining means, first actuating means for moving said lever and valve means to release a How of liquid from said orifice, second actuating means urging said lever into a position to be held by said retaining means, said first actuating means including an elongated spring having a depressible end portion extending generally in an axial direction of said spout for engagement with a portion of said lever, means for depressing said end portion, downwardly inclined track means in contact with the end portion of said spring when the latter is depressed, said track means urging said end portion out of contact with said lever after initial actuation of said lever sufcient to cause operation of said valve means to open said emission orice.

6. A liquid dispensing nozzle according to claim 4 wherein said lever is pivotally mounted within said nozzle body, said iirst and second actuating means comprising in part externally manually depressible buttons axially slidable within an upper portion of the nozzle body, said spring comprising a member of generally U-shaped crosssection having end portions extending in a direction toward opposite ends of said actuating lever, said buttons normally being urged outwardly of said nozzle body by said spring and making Contact therewith adjacent said end portions for selectively depressing opposite ends of said actuating lever, one of the ends of said lever being connected to said oat and valve means and the other of the ends of said lever being depressible to be held by said retaining means.

7. A liquid dispensing nozzle according to claim 6 wherein said retaining means comprises a magnet afxed to said nozzle body and the other of said ends of said actuating lever is magnetically attracted toward said magnet.

8. A liquid dispensing nozzle comprising a spout adapted for insertion within the mouth of a container, a nozzle body supporting said spout, a float carried by said body, means guiding said float along the axis of said spout in response to a rising level of liquid in said container, valve means connected to said float for sealably shutting o ow from said nozzle when a predetermined level of liquid has been reached within said container, an actuating lever supported for movement within said nozzle body, means interconnecting said lever and said lioat, said lever being movable into a position to cause said valve means to shut-01T flow from said nozzle and into a position to permit flow from said nozzle, retaining means for said lever to hold said valve means in a non-ow position, said iioat being movable in response to a rising liquid level to move said actuating lever to be held by said retaining means, iirst actuating means to move said lever and said float and to operate said valve means for permitting liquid to iiow from the nozzle, second actuating means urging said lever into a position to be held by said retaining means and override means permitting free movement of said lever by said oat when said first actuating means is operated prior to and during movement of said valve means by said float to a non-ow position, said iioat comprising an inverted cup-shaped member having a cylindrical outer wall joined at its upper end to a plate defining a central opening therein, the edge of said opening being joined to a cylindrical member open at each end extending downwardly from said plate for a distance generally co-extensive with the length of said outer wall, a feed tube received within said cylindrical member defining an emission orifice at its lower end, said feed tube being adapted to communicate with a source of liquid under pressure, said cylindrical member being slidable over said feed tube to guide said float axially of said spout, the outer wall of said float, said plate, and said cylindrical member being hermetically joined whereby a rising liquid level in said container will trap air within said float between said outer wall and cylindrical member to provide buoyancy to said tioat.

9. A liquid dispensing nozzle according to claim 8 wherein said valve means comprises a valve plug secured to said oat near the lower end thereof, said valve plug being adapted for insertion into said spout emission orifice to seal said oriiice upon a predetermined movement of said float in response to a rising level of liquid in said container.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 493,993 Gaudron Mar. 2l, 1893 615,337 Altshul Dec. 6, 1898 930,165 Edmunds Aug. 3, 1909 2,387,858 Russel Oct. 30, 1945 2,715,488 Conlon Aug. 16, 1955 

1. A LIQUID DISPENSING NOZZLE COMPRISING A NOZZLE BODY, A SPOUT SUPPORTED BY SAID BODY ADAPTED FOR INSERTION WITHIN THE MOUTH OF A CONTAINER, SAID SPOUT HAVING A LIQUID EMISSION ORIFIC, A FLOAT CARRIED BY SAID BODY, VALVE MEANS OPERABLE BY SAID FLOAT FOR SEALING SAID ORIFICE AFTER A PREDETERMINED LEVEL OF LIQUID HAS BEEN REACHED IN SAID CONTAINER, AN ACTUATING LEVER SUPPORTED FOR MOVEMENT WITHIN SAID NOZZLE BODY, MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID LEVER AND SAID FLOAT, SAID LEVER BEING SELECTIVELY MOVABLE INTO POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY TO ACTUATE THE VALVE MEANS TO SEAL SAID ORIFICE AND TO PERMIT FLOW THEREFROM, RETAINING MEANS WITHIN SAID NOZZLE BODY OPERATIVELY UPON SAID LEVER TO HOLD SAID LEVER AND VALVE MEANS IN A POSITION TO SEAL SAID ORIFICE, SAID LEVER BEING MOVABLE BY SAID FLOAT IN RESPONSE TO AN INCREASING LEVEL OF LIQUID IN SAID CONTAINER TO A POSITION TO BE HELD BY SAID RETAINING MEANS, FIRST ACTUATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID LEVER AND VALVE MEANS TO RELEASE A FLOW OF LIQUID FROM SAID ORIFICE, SECOND ACTUATING MEANS URGING SAID LEVER INTO A POSITION TO BE HELD BY SAID RETAINING MEANS COMPRISING MEANS PREVENTING ACTUATION OF SAID ACTUATING LEVER BY SAID FIRST ACTUATING MEANS WHEN SAID ACTUATING LEVER IS URGED BY SAID FLOAT TO A POSITION TO BE HELD BY SAID RETAINING MEANS WHEN SAID FIRST ACTUATING MEANS IS CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED PRIOR TO AND DURING ACTUATION OF SAID LEVER BY SAID FLOAT. 